The Kaikoura Chronicle.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 103, 22 February 1868, Page 4

The Kaikoura Chronicle.

(From our Own Correspondent.) BIRTH. On the 7th inst., the wife of Mr. J. Charleston, farmer, Kaikoura, of a (laughter. SHIPPING. ARRIVALS. February 2—Triumph, Clai-kson, from Lyttelton, with stores for Messrs. Evans and Gray. February 7 —Ruby, Dalton, from Wellington, with stores for Messrs. Davidson, Clemett and Turner, Clarke, Harris and Marks, and Evans. February 10—Gem, Donovan, from Picton, with timber and stores for Messrs. Harris and Marks. February ll—St. Kilda, s.s., Fox, from Wellington. DEPARTURES. February I—Sea Bird, Shepherd, for Lyttelton. February 10—Ruby, Davidson, for Wellington. February'll—St. Kilda, s.s., Fox, for Amuri Bluff and South. Yisit op the Bishop op Nelson, —His Lordship the Bishop of Nelson, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Butt from Blenheim, visited this part, of his diocese on Sunday, 2nd inst., and held divine service twice daring the day—at the Court-house in the morning, and at the School-house in the afternoon, preaching a very appropriate sermon on each occasion. There was a large congregation both morning and afternoon services, A subscription was made towards the salary of a resident clergyman and the erection of a parsonage; the sum of £159 11s. was raised, in addition to which it is expected considerable contributions will follow. This is a step in the right direction we are glad to say, as the want of a clergyman amongst us has been long felt.

The heavy rain and severe gale which occurred on Sunday night and Monday, the 2nd ’-and 3rd inst., caused considerable damage in this vicinity. The floods in the rivers were greater than have ever been known by any of the oldest settlers. In

various places several miles of fencing have been torn up and carried away, large tracks of bush uprooted and swept to sea, and acres of good pasture land completely spoiled, being either stripped of the surface soil or covered several feet thick with boulders or gravel. Communication by telegraph was cut off both north and south on Monday morning, 3rd inst. At most of |he crossing of the rivers the poles and wires have been completely washed away, and in other places miles of the line is lying on the ground. Several gangs of men are now busily engaged repairing it. The sea beach for miles is thickly strewn with timber and small wood

Two vessels were lost on the coast in the neighborhood on Monday, 3rd inst. One, the ketch Sea Bird, from Lyttelton, which left here for that place on the Ist inst., was driven back to Amuri Bluff, where she quickly foundered. There were besides the crew on board, Messrs. Woods and Pilliet, General Government marine surveyors, and a staff of men. The surveyors had intended to land at Gore Bay for the purpose of surveying that part of the coast. There was barely time before the vessel foundered for all of them to take to the surveyors’ boat, and it was with the utmost difficulty they managed to reach the shore. Fortunately no lives were lost, but Mr. Pilliet met with a severe injury to his right ancle, which accidentally got entangled in the boat line when leaving the vessel. The surveyors lost most of their instruments, for want of which they are unable to proceed with the survey. The other was the Triumph, also from Lyttelton. She lay in the harbour at the time the gale rose, and on Monday morning parted from her easterly moorings, dragging her anchor, when the wind being from the eastward the sea drove her broadside on against the end of the Government wharf with such force that it stove her side in at once and she rapidly sank. She had no cargo in at the time. The end of the wharf was broken off by the collision. Both vessels belonged to Messrs. Langdown and Co., of Christchurch, and it is believed were not insured.

Petty Sessions.— Tuesday, 11th inst.— C. Skeene and H. A. Ingles, J.P.’s, on the Bench. There was only one case which had been adjourned from last meeting, that of Charles Evans, publican, who was charged by the police with selling fermented liquor off his licensed premises on 26th December last, at the race ground, without having his license extended for that purpose. The defendant admitted the offence, but stated he had permission given him by one of the Justices, Mr. A. W. Ingles. That gentleman being present in the Court, emphatically stated to the Bench he had not done so. Sergt. Goodall also informed the Bench that the defendant could not have committed the offence in ignorance but that it was a flagrant breach of his license, as four days previous to the date of the offence he (defendant) asked him if it was necessary he should have his license extended to permit him to sell on the racecourse; he told defendant it was, and that it could be done upon his paying a fee of £2, when he would obtain a certificate signed by two Justices to that effect, whereupon the defendant observed that one of the Justices to whom he had spoken that day on the matter had also told him the same ; moreover, that when he saw defendant selling at the time on the racecourse he asked him if he had a certificate extending his license, when defendant coolly replied, “No, I had not time to fetch one, but it’s all right.” He was fined £lO and costs, the Bench remarking to defendant that it was evidently an attempt on his part to evade paying the license extension fee, and he had rendered himself liable to a penalty of £2O. _ . (

The Government s.s. St. Kilda from Wellington with telegraph materials for Boat Harbour and Gore Bay called in hers on the 11th inst. to ascertain the whereabouts of the marine survey party, and on learning of their disaster at Amuri Bluff, immediately left for that place.

We learn from other sources that Messrs. Marks and Co. have already commenced business at the Kaikoura township, and the encouragement they have received, is such that they purpose largely extending' their operations. Being applied to by several of the sheep-farmers and others to erect a wool-shed and storehouses, they have made an application to the Government for a lease of the wharf, requesting that buildings should be erected as at other ports in the province, which they will pay a fair rent for, or in case financial reasons will not permit of this plan, they offer to erept such buildings themselves, on condition • of receiving a lease for a limited term —say four years —and to be'allowed to charge a wharfage rate of say Is. per ton ; at the end of the term such buildings to be the property of the Government, and to be let by tender.

The same firm are also about to commence as Auctioneers, having already promises of large drafts of cattle, &c. A piece of land at the Kohai has been acquired by Father Seazau for the purpose of erecting a church thereon for the Catholics in the vicinity. The erection is to be proceeded with immediately.